Thursday 16 April 2009

Macro Dub Infection • Volume One


Macro Dub Infection, a two-disc set promisingly subtitled "Volume 1," is a good example of the variety of music being produced under the "dub" rubric. Not every track is reggae, but each is informed by the spacy, mystical ambience of dub, and most feature reggae's trademark deep, snaky basslines -- not to mention the vocals appearing out of nowhere before spinning off into space and the drums sneaking up and pounding you about the head and shoulders before disappearing again. These artists are mostly British, though Americans will recognize names like Tricky and the Golden Palominos. The weird skull artwork on the cover is a tipoff to the dark, eerie mood that permeates this album -- note in particular Two Badcard's creepy spoken-word track and the lovely "Operation Mind Control" by the charmingly named Skull vs. Ice. Lighter moments include the jungle-flavored "Double Edge Dub" and a lighthearted Mad Professor track called "Ragga Doll." This set rewards repeated listening and is highly recommended.


D i s c O n e
1 The Disciples • The Struggle Of Life
2 Spring Heel Jack • Double Edge Dub
3 Two Badcard • Sergio Mendez Part 1
4 Automaton • Astral Altar Dub
5 Bedouin Ascent • Broadway Boogie Woogie
6 The Rootsman • The Wadada (Sema Mix)
7 Coil • The Hills Are Alive
8 Omni Trio • The Half Cut
9 Laika • If You Miss (Laika Virgin Mix)
10 New Kingdom • Crush Your Enemies (Panama Connection Dub Mix)
11 Tortoise • Goriri

D i s c T w o
1 Skull vs. Ice • Operation Mind Control
2 Bud Alzir • Morocco
3 Extremadura • Beta, Seekers Of Smooth Things
4 4 Hero • The Paranormal In 4 Form
5 Golden Palominos • This Is How It Feels (Dub)
6 Mad Professor • Ragga Doll
7 Wagon Christ • Phora Ride
8 Scorn • The End (Remix)
9 Tricky • Ambient Pumpkin
10 Bandulu • Come Forward
11 Earthling • Nothingness



Scientist Meets the Ghost Captain

 

Label: Virgin 7243 8 40475 2 8
Series: Ambient Series - AMBT 7
Format: 2 x CD, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: 1995
Genre: Electronic
Style: Leftfield, Dub, Drum n Bass, Trip Hop

Saturday 21 February 2009

Jill Kroesen • Stop Vicious Cycles



The subjects of Kroesen's songs range from the old Wayne Hayes sex scandal [?] to Alexander the Great, to tunes of personal and political exploitation. On the first side she rocks, rolls, wails, and whines her way through songs with spunky, sometimes bizarre arrangements by Peter Gordon and Kroesen. The mood is now romantic, now introspective, now rollicking, with titles like Honey, You're So Mean and I Am Not Seeing That You Are Here as featured on Soul Jazz Records New York Noise Volume 2, not to mention the thought provoking I'm Sorry I'm Such A Weenie. The second side is contemplative, including I'm Just A Human Being.


1. Wayne Hayes Blues
Rebecca Armstrong: vocal
Peter Gordon: vocal
Jill Kroesen: vocal, Hammond organ
Bill Laswell: bass
George Lewis: trombone
Tony Machine: Tama Drums
David Van Tieghem: percussion

2. I Am Not Seeing That You Are Here
Peter Gordon: sax
Jill Kroesen: vocal, congas
Bill Laswell: bass
George Lewis: trombone
Tony Machine: Tama Drums

3. Ride Your Pony
Don Christensen: drums
Peter Gordon: Prophet 5, organ, sax, vocal
Jody Harris: guitar
Jill Kroesen: vocal, percussion
Bill Laswell: bass
Larry Saltzman: guitar

4. Honey, You’re So Mean
Jill Kroesen: vocal, piano

5. I’m Sorry I’m Such a Weenie
Peter Gordon: sax mouthpiece
Jill Kroesen: vocal, clavinet
Bill Laswell: bass
George Lewis: trombone
Tony Machine: Tama Drums
David Van Tieghem: percussion

6. I Am Not Seeing That You Are Here
Jill Kroesen: vocal, congas
Bill Laswell: bass
Fred Maher: drums

7. Alexander the Great
Jill Kroesen: vocal, piano

8. Fay Shism Blues
Peter Gordon: string ensemble, clavinet, sax, Hammond organ
Jill Kroesen: vocal, piano
Bill Laswell: sax
Tony Machine: Tama Drums
Fred Maher: Guitar
Arthur Russell: cello
Fred Smith: bass
“Blue” Gene Tyranny: piano

9. “I’m Just a Human Being”
Jill Kroesen: vocal, piano

Produced by Peter Gordon and Jill Kroesen.
All songs by Jill Kroesen, except “Ride Your Pony” by Naomi Neville.
Recorded December 1979-February 1982.
Found on a now defunct blog